Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District

ADMISSIONS POLICY
Effective January 13, 2004

I. INTRODUCTION

An admission process is necessary in vocational technical schools where space is a limiting factor. Vocational technical laboratories (shops) are designed and equipped to serve a specific maximum number of students safely. Consequently, a complex of such laboratories lacks both the space and flexibility to accommodate the possible needs and/or interests of all applicants. Therefore, a selection process is necessary to determine which applicants may most benefit from such educational opportunities. All applicants to grades nine through twelve at Minuteman Regional High School will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy. The Minuteman Regional School District Committee approved this policy on January 13, 2004.

II. EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY

Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District admits students and makes available its advantages, privileges and courses of study without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

If there is a student with limited English proficiency, a qualified representative from Minuteman will assist the applicant in completing the necessary forms and assist in interpreting during the entire application and admission process upon the request of the applicant.

Disabled students may voluntarily self-identify for the purpose of requesting reasonable accommodations during the entire application and admission process.

Information on limited English proficiency and disability submitted voluntarily by the applicant, for the purpose of receiving assistance and accommodations during the entire application and admission process, will not affect their admission to the school.

III. ELIGIBILITY

Any 8th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grade student who is a resident of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District (Acton, Arlington, Belmont, Bolton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Dover, Lancaster, Lexington, Lincoln, Needham, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston) who expects to be promoted into the grade they seek to enter by their local district is eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year subject to availability of openings to Minuteman Regional High School. Resident students will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy. Priority for admission is given to Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District residents according to the District Agreement.

Students who are not residents of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District are eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year subject to the availability of openings to Minuteman provided they expect to be promoted into the grade they seek to enter by their local district and comply with established Massachusetts Department of Education Chapter 74 nonresident admissions policies, including seeking the approval of the local school superintendent. Nonresident students will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy.

Transfer students from other vocational technical schools are eligible to apply for fall admission or admission during the school year to grades 9 through 12 at Minuteman provided they expect to be promoted into the grade they seek to enter by their current school. Transfer students will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy.

IV. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Minuteman Regional High School is a public vocational technical school located on a scenic campus in Lexington, Massachusetts. Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Minuteman is committed to providing quality vocational technical programs to the communities it serves.

It is the responsibility of the Minuteman Superintendent to supervise the administration of the policies and procedures required to admit and enroll applicants in conformity with this Admission Policy.

Minuteman has an Admissions Committee appointed by the Superintendent. The committee consists of a member of the Administration, Guidance, Special Education, Vocational Technical and Academic Departments. Responsibilities of the Admissions Committee include:

• Determination of standards for admission;
• Development and implementation of admission procedure;
• Processing of applications;
• Ranking of student applicants;
• Acceptance of students according to the procedure and criteria in the admission policy;
• Establishment and maintenance of waiting list of acceptable candidates.

The Chairperson of the Minuteman Admissions Committee is responsible for disseminating information about Minuteman though local school assemblies and press releases, and for collecting applications from the local schools.

The Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District Regional Agreement governs the admission for school district residents and non-residents. The Regional Agreement (Policy Topic: Admissions to Programs, File # 4.10) sets as a policy standard the following:

The Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District Committee shall enroll in the Minuteman Regional High School those students from the various member towns who, in its judgment, are best suited to profit from the instructional programs offered. Furthermore, if applications exceed the capacity of school programs, the School Committee will define admission quotas for member towns on the basis of proportional shares of ninth grade class.

Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District does not participate in the School Choice Program, unless the School Committee’s annual required vote on the issue determines otherwise.

V. RECRUITMENT

Minuteman disseminates information about the school through a variety of methods.

• Visits with an informational slide or video presentation to 8th grade classes in local schools by Minuteman Staff from October to March are scheduled
• At least one Open House is scheduled during the fall and/or winter. Prospective students and their parent(s)/guardians(s) have an opportunity to visit all vocational-technical programs and speak with teachers as well as view a presentation about all offerings.
• Parent(s)/guardian(s) may schedule individual visits at a mutually convenient time.
• Brochures, which describe vocational technical programs including academic courses, sports, cooperative education, and special education courses, are distributed during the 8th grade visitations and the Open Houses.

VI. APPLICATION PROCESS

Application process for fall admission to the 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade (applying for admission during the winter and spring to begin classes the following September.)

• Students interested in applying to Minuteman for fall admission to the 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade must:
  • Obtain an application from either Minuteman or their local school Guidance Counselor as early in the school year as possible.
  • Return the completed application form to either their local school Guidance Counselor for submission to Minuteman or directly to Minuteman by the deadline set by the Admissions Committee.
• It is the responsibility of the student applicant, his or her parent or guardian and the local school Guidance Counselor to:
  • Complete their portion of the application form, including signatures. The Admissions Committee may require an applicant’s parent or guardian to verify legal residency within the Minuteman Regional School District.
  • Forward the competed application to the Admission Committee at the Guidance Office at Minuteman.
• Completed application form (including required signatures)
  • For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the final grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 marks in English language arts, social studies, math and science from the local school report card/transcripts are required.
  • For applications to grade 10, 11 or 12 (fall admission) the final report card of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 of the current school year marks in English language arts, social studies, math and science from the local school report card/transcripts is required.
  • For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the sum of grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 for unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcripts are required.
  • For applications to grades 10, 11, or 12 (fall admission) the sum of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 of the current school year for unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcripts are required.
  • For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the average of grade 7 terms and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 assessments of behavior from the local school report card or from the local school Guidance Counselor’s assessment are required.
  • For applications to grade 10, 11 or 12 (fall admission) the average of the previous school year assessments of behavior from the local school report card or from the local school Guidance Counselor’s assessment are required.
  • For applications to grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 (fall admission), a recommendation from local Guidance Counselor will be requested.

Deadline set by the Admissions Committee. Complete applications shall include:

•  If incomplete applications are received, the following procedures will be followed:
  • The Admissions Committee at Minuteman will notify the local school Guidance Counselor responsible for submitting the application that the application is incomplete and will request completion.
  • The applicant’s parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified by the Minuteman Admission Committee in the event that the problem is not resolved by the local school Guidance Counselor.
  • If after notifying the local school Guidance Counselor and parent(s)/guardian(s), the application remains incomplete for twenty (20) school days, the application will be placed in an inactive file and only reactivated by the timely submission of incomplete documents.
  • Incomplete applications received after the submission deadline will automatically be placed in the inactive file. At this point, the Admissions Committee will not be required to take any further action unless in response to subsequent timely submission of complete documents.
• Admission to Minuteman during the current school year will be allowed only as space is available, as determined by the school administration.
• Students interested in applying to Minuteman for admission for the current school year must:
  • Obtain an application from either Minuteman or their local school Guidance Counselor as early in the school year as possible.
  • Return the completed application form to either their local school Guidance Counselor for submission to Minuteman or directly to Minuteman under the guidelines set by the Admissions Committee.
  • With the applicant’s parent or guardian, attend an interview at Minuteman with a representative of the Admission Committee. If the applicant or parent/guardian cannot provide transportation a representative from Minuteman will go to the local school to conduct the interview.
• It is the responsibility of the student applicant, his or her parent or guardian and the local school Guidance Counselor to:
  • Complete their portion of the application form, including signatures. The Admissions Committee may require an applicant’s parent or guardian to verify legal residency within the Minuteman Regional School District.
  • Forward the competed application to the Admission Committee at Minuteman by the deadline set by the Admissions Committee. Complete applications shall include:
    • Completed application form (including required signatures)
    • For applications to grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 (admission during the school year) grades in English language arts, social studies, math and science from the local report card/transcript are required for both the last full school year and the current school year-to-date of the application.
    • For applications to grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 (admission during the school year) a record of unexcused absences from the local school report card/transcripts are required for both the last full school year and the current school year-to-date of the application.
    • For applications to grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 (admission during the school year) assessments of behavior from the local school report card and/or from the local Guidance Counselor are required for both the last full school year and the current school year-to-date of the application.
    • For applications to grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 (admission during the school year) the local school Guidance Counselor’s recommendation is required.
  • If incomplete applications are received, the following procedures will be followed.
    • The Minuteman Admissions Committee will notify the local school Guidance Counselor responsible for submitting the application, that the application is incomplete and will request completion.
    • The applicant’s parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified by the Minuteman Admissions Committee in the event the problem is not resolved by the local school Guidance Counselor.
    • If after notifying the local school Guidance Counselor and parent(s)/guardian(s), the application remains incomplete for ten (10) school days, the application will be placed in the inactive file. At this point, the Admissions Committee will not be required to take any further action unless in response to subsequent timely submission of complete documents
    • Incomplete applications received after the submission deadline will automatically be placed in the inactive file. At this point, the Admissions Application process for admission into the 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th Grade during the current school year (Applying for admission during the school year to begin classes during the same school year, as opposed to applying for admission during one school year to begin classes the next school year in the fall.)

Committee will not be required to take any further action unless in response to subsequent timely submission of complete documents.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Applications received after deadline set annually by the Admissions Committee will be evaluated using the same criteria as other applications and their composite score will be integrated in rank order on the established waiting list.

TRANSFER STUDENTS
Applications from students who are enrolled in a Massachusetts Department of Education approved Chapter 74 vocational technical high school program in another school (transfer students) will be considered for admission (including admission during the school year) if they withdraw from their current school, wish to pursue the same program of study at Minuteman and relocate into a member community of the Minuteman School District. Students who relocate to a non-member community and wish to pursue the same program of study at Minuteman may apply, but must seek and obtain the approval of the local school superintendent following established state Chapter 74 nonresident policies prior to admission and enrollment.

All transfer applicants must meet all standard admissions policy criteria including attending an interview at Minuteman. If the applicant or parent/guardian cannot provide transportation, an official from Minuteman will go to the local school to interview the applicant and parent or guardian. Their application will be evaluated according to the provisions of this Admission Policy.

WITHDRAWN STUDENTS
Students who withdraw from Minuteman and who are either attending or not attending another high school may reapply to Minuteman following the procedure contained in this Admission Policy and will be evaluated using the criteria contained in this Admission Policy.

HOME SCHOOL STUDENTS
Applications from students presently being formally home schooled may apply for admission to Minuteman, including admission during the school year, provided all Admissions Policy criteria are followed. The Home School student’s parent or guardian must be prepared to submit a copy of the Home School approval letter from the local school superintendent and, if grades are not available, a representative sample or portfolio (if available) of the student’s body of work in English, math, science and social studies.

VII. SELECTION CRITERIA

Admission Committee using weighted admissions criteria shall review and process all completed applications. Each applicant will be assigned a score derived from the sum of the sub scores of the following criteria:

 

1. Scholastic Achievement: Maximum 20 points

Grade Averages	Points
90-100 (A)	5
80-89 (B)	4
70-79 (C)	3
60-69 (D)	1
0-59 (F) or (I)	0

For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the average of grade 7 and terms 1 & 2 grade 8 marks in English, social studies, mathematics and science from the local school report card/transcript are used.

For applications to grades 10, 11, or 12 (fall admission) the average of the previous school year and terms 1 & 2 of the currents school year marks in English, social studies, mathematics and science from the local school report card/transcripts are used.

For applications to grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 (admission during the school year) the current school year-to-date of the application marks in English, social studies, mathematics and science from the local school report card/transcript are used.

In the case of an application that includes a transcript that makes it difficult to determine whether the student passed traditional 8th grade or later courses in English and math, Minuteman may require more specific information from the sending school regarding curriculum and student work. If the sending school is not responsive to such a request, Minuteman may require the applicant to otherwise demonstrate his or her work on an 8th grade English or math assignment.

 

2. Attendance: Maximum 20 points

Number of Absences	Points
0-4	20
5-15	15
16-20	10
21-30	5
31 plus	0

For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the sum of the preceding five (5) terms of absences from the local school report card/transcripts are used and considered.

For applications to grades 10, 11, or 12 (fall admission) the sum of the preceding five (5) terms of absences from the local school report card/transcripts are used and considered.

For applications to Grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 (admission during the school year) the sum of the preceding five (5) terms of absences from the local school report card/transcripts are used and considered.

 

 

 

3. School Discipline/Conduct: Maximum 20 points

Discipline/Conduct Rating	Points
Excellent	20
Above Average	15
Average	10
Below Average	5
Poor	0

For applications to grade 9 (fall admission), the sum of the preceding five (5) terms assessments from the local school report card/transcripts or from the local school Guidance Counselor’s assessments are used.

For application to grades 10, 11, or 12 (fall admission) the sum of the preceding five (5) terms assessments from the local school report card/transcripts or from the local school Guidance Counselor’s assessments are used.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Local Guidance Counselor’s Recommendation: Maximum 20 points 

Rating	Points
Excellent	20
Above Average	15
Average	10
Below Average	5
Poor	0

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Interview: Maximum 20 points

Rating	Points
Excellent	20
Above Average	15
Average	10
Below Average	5
Poor	0

After points are given in each area, the points are totaled for each applicant. A maximum total of one hundred (100) points can be earned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIII. SELECTION PROCESS

The Admissions Committee at Minuteman considers scholastic achievement, attendance, school behavior, local Guidance Counselor’s recommendation and interview results. Applications are reviewed processed and assigned points by grade level.

After a point total for each resident application has been determined, all resident applications are placed in order of their “point total” and town of residence. Resident applications are then accepted in order of the point total they have achieved. The resident applicant with the highest point total is accepted first, the residents with the second highest point total is accepted second, and so on until all district-wide seats are filled. All resident applications are accepted, declined, or placed on a waiting list. If openings occur, the seats are then filled by accepting resident applicants from the waiting list. These resident applicants, like those accepted earlier, are accepted in order of their place on the waiting list determined by the total points given according to the selection criteria.

Non-resident applications are evaluated using the criteria in this Admission Policy and will be placed on the waiting list after the accepted resident applicants. Nonresident applicants on the waiting list will only be accepted if all accepted resident applicants on the waiting list have been admitted.

Applications received after the deadline will be evaluated using the same criteria as other applications and their composition score will be integrated in rank order on the established waiting list. Nonresident applications received after the deadline must have the local school superintendent’s approval for admission under Chapter 74 prior to the Admissions Committee’s evaluation and ranking procedure.

 

All applicants whose applications are received by Minuteman by the deadline are notified of their status by a letter to the parents/guardians and their local school Guidance Counselor by mid-May. Applicants whose applications are not received by Minuteman by the deadline will receive a letter each school quarter informing them of their status.

IX. ENROLLMENT

In order to enroll at Minuteman for the fall, applicants must have been promoted to the grade they wish to enter by their local school district. In addition, they must have passed courses in English language arts or the equivalent and mathematics for the school year immediately preceding their enrollment at Minuteman. Applicants failing either or both subjects should expect to be required to enroll in and pass summer school prior to admission into Minuteman.

X. VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL PROGRAM PLACEMENT/EXPLORATORY

All 9th graders who enroll at Minuteman Regional High School, including those admitted into one of the technology academies, shall participate in a half-year vocational technical exploratory program designed to help them learn about their talents and interests relative to a variety of different vocational-technical programs. Students initially explore each vocational technical shop for one day. Then, students list their top 4-exploratory choices and explore them each for one week in each shop. At the end of this 4-week exploratory period, each student selects his or her first program of choice, as well as a second and third choice from the four explored shops.

Students are admitted into the shop of their choice based on two factors: 1) the point total earned in all shops combined; and 2) the point total earned in the desired shop. A simple formula that adds the points together from both factors equal a student’s total point score for the Exploratory program. For example, a student with a point total of 440 would be admitted into his or her first choice shop before a student with a point total of 435. Two exceptions apply to this point total approach. Exception one is that resident students have preference over nonresident students except in cases where a nonresident was admitted to the school on the basis of a specific vocational major. In this case there will be an automatic referral to the appeals process, as outlined in Section XI of this policy. Exception two concerns nonresident students who attempt to change shops to enroll in a vocational major not approved by their sending district or the Department of Education. Such a change in shop choice would only be allowed with the approval of the sending district or the Department of Education.

If a shop fills, based on the point total, before a student gets his or her second or third choice, the guidance counselor then moves to the student’s second or third choice depending on whether there is an opening in the shop. Again, the student is admitted based upon overall point total. If a student’s point total in all shops combined is so low they were not placed in their second or third shop because the shops were filled by students with higher point totals, the guidance counselor will meet with the student and present a list of the shops with openings which the student explored and asked the student to choose one of them. Again, students selecting shops among the shops with openings, which the students explored, will be admitted based on their point totals. The process continues until all students are placed.

Students who enroll in Minuteman Regional High School after grade 9 may explore vocational technical programs that have openings, before making a program selection. Students are evaluated and graded by each shop teacher during the period of exploration. If the number of enrollees seeking a particular shop exceeds the number of openings, the evaluative grades received by the student’s rank order would determine the enrollee or enrollees who are placed in the particular shop.

Students who wish to transfer from one shop to another during the school year may apply for transfer. Transfer requests, regardless of residency, will be considered subject to the availability of openings in the requested shops. Transfer requests from nonresident students will only be entertained if the student seeks to transfer into a vocational major that is not provided by his or her local school district and with the approval of the local school superintendent or the Department of Education; otherwise the student would be required to return to the local school district. Each transfer applicant will be interviewed and counseled individually to determine the appropriateness of the transfer for the particular student.

XI. REVIEW and APPEALS

The applicant’s parent(s)/guardian(s), upon receipt of a letter from the Minuteman Admissions Committee indicating that the applicant was not accepted or was placed on a waiting list, may request a review of the decision by sending a letter requesting a review to the Chairperson of the Admissions Committee within twenty (20) days of the receipt of the letter. The Chairperson will respond in writing to the letter with his or her findings of the review within twenty (20) days.

If after the first review, the parent/guardian wishes to appeal the findings of the review they may do so by sending a letter requesting an appeal of the Admissions Committee’s finding to the Principal who will investigate the matter and respond to the appeal in writing within twenty (20) days. If after the second review, the parent/guardian now wishes to appeal the decision of the Principal they may do so by sending a letter requesting another appeal to the Superintendent who will investigate the matter and respond in writing to the appeal within twenty (20) days. The Superintendent’s decision shall be final.

The applicant’s parent(s)/guardian(s), upon receipt of a letter from Minuteman indicating the applicant was not accepted into or was placed on a waiting list for a particular vocational program (shop major), may request a review of the decision by sending a letter to the Principal within thirty days of the receipt of the letter. The Principal will respond in writing to the letter with the findings of his review within thirty (30) days. If after the second review, the parent/guardian wishes to appeal the decision of the Principal they may do so by sending a letter requesting another appeal to the Superintendent who will investigate the matter and respond in writing to the appeal within twenty (20) days. The Superintendent’s decision shall be final.

For the purposes of the Review and Appeals Process outlined above an applicant’s parent/guardian may either send correspondence to Minuteman Regional High School via U.S. mail, facsimile or email, but all official correspondence from Minuteman shall be conducted via U.S. mail which may or may not require certified delivery.

Chapter 74 Vocational-Technical Programs

Effective November 1, 2007 for September 2008 admissions and enrollment Out-of-District Communities, Programs NOT available locally BUT at Minuteman
Ayer and Watertown
All Minuteman programs are available to students from Ayer and Watertown.

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Malden, Reading, Stoneham, Winchester and Woburn (Shore Collaborative, including Northeast Met)

• Electromechanical Engineering/Robotics
• Environmental Technology
• Landscape Management
• Telecommunications

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Bedford, Billerica and Burlington and Wilmington (Shawsheen Valley Reg Tech)

• Biotechnology
• Early Childhood Education
• Electromechanical Engineering/Robotics
• Environmental Technology
• Landscape Management
• Marketing
• Pre-Engineering

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Maynard (Assabet Valley Regional)

• Biotechnology
• Early Childhood Education
• Electromechanical Engineering/Robotics
• Environmental Technology
• HVAC
• Landscape Management
• Marketing
• Pre-Engineering
• Telecommunications

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Boston (Madison Park)

• Biotechnology
• Drafting
• Early Childhood Education
• Electromechanical Engineering/Robotics
• Environmental Technology
• HVAC
• Landscape Management
• Marketing
• Pre-Engineering Academy
• Telecommunications

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Medford (Shore Collaborative, including Northeast Met)

• Electromechanical Engineering/Robotics
• Environmental Technology
• Landscape Management
• Telecommunications